Paramount’s Mark Viane has made the bold claim that Ridley Scott’s Gladiator 2 will have some of the “biggest action sequences ever put on film.”
The sequel was shown off at the 2024 CineEurope trade show, and it included fresh footage for those in attendance.
The Barcelona-based event pulled out all the stops for Gladiator 2’s appearance. A giant cardboard coliseum was erected around the main auditorium, and Roman legionnaires were stationed there.
Gladiator 2 gets big showing at CineEurope
In the presentation itself, there was a previously unseen trailer and extended footage featuring stars Paul Mescal and Pedro Pascal.
During the presentation, Paramount President of International Theatrical Distribution Mark Viane made his claim about the film’s action sequences. Meanwhile, director Ridley Scott spoke in a video introduction. He said Gladiator 2 was ”well worth the wait” coming nearly a quarter of a century after the original.
Previously, studio executives were reportedly ”blown away” by early Gladiator 2 footage. So Viane’s comments are in keeping with that initial excitement.
The upcoming Gladiator sequel is once again directed by Scott, who also helmed the original Russell Crowe-starring movie released in 2000. The script was written by David Scarpa, who previously collaborated with Scott on 2017’s All the Money in the World and 2023’s Napoleon.
Paul Mescal is playing Lucius Verus, the son of Connie Nielsen’s character (portrayed by Spencer Treat Clark in the original movie), in Gladiator 2. Nielsen is also reprising her role as Lucilla.
The movie also stars Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, Fred Hechinger, May Calamawy, Derek Jacobi, Lior Raz, Peter Mensah, Matt Lucas, and Tim McInnerny.
Production on Gladiator 2 began in June 2023. However, it was suspended about a month later because of the SAG-AFTRA strike. Filming resumed in December 2024, and production officially wrapped on January 17, 2024.
Gladiator 2 will be in US theaters on November 22, 2024.
